Children's home run by Therapeutic Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in November 2023. It is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During the inspection, both children spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. This was due to emerging concerns of the suitability of the area and the ability of staff to keep them safe. However, there were also several behavioural incidents in the home which staff did not always respond to using a therapeutic approach. This led to one child having to leave the home immediately. This was upsetting for the child and did not demonstrate a positive ending.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two new children have moved into the home. The moves into the home were planned and managed in a sensitive way. Children have made progress from their starting points and formed positive relationships with staff. One child said, ‘I’ve got everything I need here. It’s the best home I have lived in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education. When children are not in mainstream education, staff provide creative opportunities for learning and enrichment. The manager and staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the educational barriers that children may encounter. There is good joint working with other professionals to ensure that children remain engaged in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support the health needs of children. When children have been disengaged from health professionals for an extended period, staff work to rebuild their confidence and encourage re-engagement. At present, both children residing in the home had previously missed some of their routine childhood immunisations. However, staff have now ensured that these have been completed. In addition, both children and staff have access to the provider’s therapeutic team, which supports a strong understanding of children’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with family and friends in the community and the home. Children are offered a wide range of experiences and can try new activities that may interest them. Staff members place an emphasis on physical activities and the children have been able to take part in paddleboarding, hiking and boxing. The children have recently enjoyed a holiday abroad with staff, which was well planned and safely managed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff team has undergone considerable change since the last inspection. The children currently living in the home are kept safe by staff who are attuned to their needs and know their strengths and vulnerabilities well. Staff have a good understanding of the procedures they need to follow to keep children safe. Staff build trusting relationships with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 4 Staff have a good understanding of therapeutic practices. Positive behaviour is promoted using rewards and incentives. Negative consequences are used sparingly and are appropriate. Staff hold regular discussions with children on important issues, such as staying safe, health and substance misuse.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Missing-from-home episodes have been well managed and responded to promptly by staff. Staff search for children and collect them when they are ready to return home. Clear records are maintained and include all actions taken and effective management oversight.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There are robust protocols in relation to substance misuse. When there are suspicions of substance misuse, staff look for any harmful substances and dispose of these. Staff seek medical advice and ensure that they complete regular welfare checks. Referrals to specialist services are made and staff speak to children to help them understand the dangers of misusing substances.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know how to escalate concerns, including to external safeguarding agencies. New members of staff have been recruited safely to ensure that only suitable individuals work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He has good oversight of the home. There is a stable and dedicated staff team. When there are staffing shortages, the manager ensures that a small pool of staff from other homes works alongside core staff members to provide consistency for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff are experienced and qualified in residential childcare. Staff have access to a wide range of training. When new needs emerge for children, the manager ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to support the children. The children are also able to access some training courses, which broadens their understanding of some of the risks they may face.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are supported by the manager and the organisation. Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions, which encourages reflection on their practice and promotes learning. Yearly staff appraisals take place. However, appraisals lack feedback from children, and this limits the manager’s ability to fully assess the impact of staff practice from the children’s perspective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are child focused. The clinical team also attends meetings on occasion. This provides opportunities for staff to develop their understanding of the children’s needs and supports ongoing learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager have developed good working relationships with other professionals. They advocate for children and challenge when necessary. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; 29 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 6 de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and confidence to defuse and de-escalate children’s behaviours.

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Recommendation

 All yearly staff appraisals should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff members over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Therapeutic Care Ltd, Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744230 8 inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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